Board Meeting Update #123

Board Meeting Update #123, October 26, 2015

This update provides a summary of the public meeting of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Monday, October 26, 2015 at the Education Centre. It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next regular meeting in November 2015.

Character moment: Radio PSAs and relaunch of the Say One Nice Thing Campaign At Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board we have shared beliefs that all students can be successful, student well-being is a foundation of our work and that schools play an important role in student well-being. Mark Fisher, Superintendent of Education highlighted two initiatives that are underway in support of Bullying Prevention & Awareness Week in mid-November.

Public service announcements (PSAs) are airing on local radio stations during October about bullying awareness. The 30-second commercials encourage children, youth, their families and the public to become informed and take an active role in contributing to positive learning environments and relationships. Mandy Savery-Whiteway, Director of Education, is heard at the end of the commercials saying, “Feeling welcome and included help in feeling safe. I’m Mandy Savery-Whiteway, Director of Education for Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. We support students to develop healthy, positive relationships.”

2. Re-launch of the Say One Nice Thing campaign. Initially launched at this time last year, this campaign was so successful it will run again. Data from school climate surveys indicated that students who felt welcome and included helped them to be connected at school. The campaign will feature updated posters, post cards, stickers and lanyards branded with Say One Nice Thing, and will be distributed to schools in early November to use as they wish.

Report from Committee of the Whole Highlights from this report included the following:

Probationary status of new teachers

Recommendations

None

Information

Calendar of events A number of district and school events are scheduled for November 2015.

Some upcoming events include the following:

Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day ceremonies at various schools

Thursday, November 19: Arts Program Information Session at Centennial Secondary School

Report from the chair Highlights from this report included the following:

Reviewed new pupil accommodation review guidelines which were released by the Ministry of Education earlier this year. Public input on Policy 15: Student Enrolment/School Capacity: Pupil

Accommodation Review, is invited until Friday, November 6, 2015. The policy is on the website at: http://www.hpedsb.on.ca/newsroom/?p=8711

Report from the Operations and Finance Committee Highlights from this report included the following:

discussed the mileage rate of reimbursement which will remain as-is for this school year and be reviewed at this time next year; and policies to be reviewed this year.

Report from the Program and Human Resources Committee Highlights from this report included the following:

presentation of the Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement & Well-Being; public service announcement (PSA) campaign and re-launch of the Say One Nice Thing campaign to support Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week in mid-November 2015.

Notice of Motion: 2015-2016 Board policy review Notice of motion was given that a recommendation will be on the agenda for the November 16, 2015 Board meeting to approve changes to the following board policies:

Policy 1: Board Mission and Goals

Policy 2: Governance By-Laws and Standing Rules

Policy 4: Corporate Board Job Description

Policy 9: Role of the Board Member

Policy 15: Student Enrolment/School Capacity

Report from trustees Highlights from this report included the following:

Centre Hastings Secondary School will be honoured this Wednesday, October 28 in Toronto by the Education Quality & Accountability Office (EQAO) by receiving the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson

Recognition of Achievement for making targeted improvements in mathematics. Stories from CHSS staff on this topic will be published by EQAO throughout Ontario as examples of best practices.

Report from student trustees Highlights from this report included the following:

Participation in the recent student trustee conference which included the following guest speakers: Alex Duffy, Janet Ecker, Andrea Horwath and Ruth Rodrigues, and others. The two HPEDSB student trustees are on the First Nations, Metis & Inuit Committee and are working to raise awareness of and participation in Orange Shirt Day.

The first meeting of the Student Senate for this school year is tomorrow.

February 28 – 21, 2016 is the Public Council Conference for students and our student trustees are hoping to attend.

Upcoming meetings

All meetings take place at the Education Centre unless otherwise noted.

Monday, November 2: Executive Committee, 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, November 4: Audit Committee, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, November 9: Program and Human Resources Committee, 5:30 p.m.

Monday, November 9: Operations and Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 18: Parent Involvement Committee, 6:00 p.m.

Monday, November 16: Public Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m. NEW LOCATION: York River Public School, 132 Newkirk Boulevard, Bancroft